The only place I have regretted being a solo traveler was in Iceland. I couldn't split the cost of a rental car or hotel room with someone, which would have given me a lot more freedom to explore outside Reykjavík. I ended up taking a guided tour of The Golden Circle, with stops at Þingvellir National Park, Geysir hot springs, and Gullfoss waterfall. Two nights was way too short to even scratch the surface of the gorgeous country.

Iceland's turbulent skies + haunting public art/graffiti

Permanent low tide

Lush Þingvellir National Park

Moss soaked in mist from Gullfoss in the background

Gullfoss waterfall

Mars // Shallows near a geyser

Geysir

Hot water bubbling up from the Earth

Waterfalls on the way back to Reykjavík that were not Gullfoss, but equally beautiful.

Reykjavík at dusk around 8:45pm. I really wish I had a zoom lens because the sun hitting the mountain range up ahead was breathtaking.

Shrouded in fog

Favorite memory? Relaxing in a hot tub at an outdoor public pool, with cold rain falling on my face and steam rising from the surface of the water. 10 hours later I landed at O'Hare International. // I was left with an overwhelming sense of sadness to leave Iceland so soon. Planning my two-night stopover with Icelandair, I knew I would be up against the Schengen area 90-day-limit, so that's why it was so short. I'll be back soon.